Chapter 12.12
VISIBILITY BLOCKAGE*
Sections:
12.12.010 Visibility blockage regulations.
* Prior ordinance history: Ord. 267.
12.12.010 Visibility blockage regulations.
Any property owner who owns property on any street, avenue or highway within the city shall prune or otherwise control growth of trees and other vegetation, including hedges, shrubbery and other plant material on his/her property in such a manner that such trees and other vegetation will not block or shade the light from street lights, obstruct the passage of persons on sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic sign, or obstruct the view of any intersection or alley intersection. (Ord. 90-24 § 1 (part), 1990)
12.12.020 Enforcement.
A. If any property owner fails to prune (or take other appropriate action) to control growth of trees or other vegetation as provided in Section 12.12.010, and the city engineer has actual knowledge of the condition, then the city engineer may, by written notice to the property owner, order such person to prune (or take other appropriate action) within fourteen days after written notice is forwarded to the property owner. The notice shall state that criminal prosecution may result from noncompliance.
B. If a property owner to whom the above written notice is forwarded does not comply within the specified time, then such property owner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment of not more than thirty days, or both. In addition to this criminal penalty, the city engineer or his/her designee may prune the trees or take other appropriate action, charge the owner for the cost of the work, record the charges as a lien against the property and collect this amount in a civil action against the property owner. The city shall be entitled to recover its costs and attorneys’ fees in such action. (Ord. 90-24 § 1 (part), 1990)